A/N: I don't speak French, so I used the internet as best I could. Please feel free to let me know if I made a mistake. I also know this chapter is short. I have an idea of how I want Amelia's life to go, and the chapters should be longer in the future.
Tudor Christmas was celebrated with mass and a Christmas Day feast. It was followed by New Year's Day (January 1), Epiphany (January 6), and the Feast of the Annunciation (March 25), which was when the new year in Tudor times technically began. The Feast of the Annunciation celebrates Gabriel telling Mary she was pregnant.
25 December 1536
Henry was joyous at Christmastide. Even though there were problems in the nation, like the fact his wife still had not produced an heir and there were still pockets of rebellion in the north, Christmas was the time that he could set those thoughts aside for one day and focus on the holiday.
Besides, he had his daughter Mary at his side. It truly was great to be reunited with his eldest daughter, and be able to welcome her back to court. The only thing missing now was his daughter Amelia.
The women on either side of him were looking at each other with smiles on their faces. He looked back and forth between them for a few moments before finally looking straight forward and asking "are you ladies conspiring something?"
"We would both like to present some others to Your Majesty at this Christmastide," Jane said to her husband, leaning forward slightly.
"Very well," Henry responded.
The first figure he saw was the Duke of Suffolk, the tallest of the small group making their way towards the throne. Amelia walked next to him, wearing a red dress and flowers in her hair just like Mary and Jane. The woman's gaze shifted between her father and the tiny baby that she held in her arms. John, his elder grandson, walked between his parents, holding his father's hand and clutching his mother's skirts, his big eyes darting all over the room, taking in all of the sights and sounds of the court around him.
"Your Majesties," Amelia and Charles said in unison, bowing.
Henry laughed. "I knew the three of you would conspire on something," he said. "Welcome back to court, Lady Amelia."
There was a flurry of activity as the family approached the King. Amelia handed Owen to Charles, who brought him to the King. The baby was much bigger than the last time that the King had seen him, and the tiny smile on his face melted the King's heart. The Queen lifted John up to sit in her lap, and from there, he excitedly told her about their entire trip to the palace. Amelia embraced her sister as if they had not seen each other in years, and listened as Mary filled her in on all of the court gossip.
Eventually, they settled down. Charles stood behind the King on his right side, Amelia on his left. Owen had made his way back into Amelia's arms, but John still sat on the Queen's lap.
"There is one more person we would like to present to you, Your Majesty," Mary said from the King's side.
The King simply nodded.
A hush fell over the court as a small, red-headed girl made her way through the mass of people. Like the women that surrounded Henry, she wore a red dress trimmed with gold, and a crown made of flowers. The girl curtsied politely once she had reached the King.
"Your Majesty," Amelia began from behind him. "This is-"
"My daughter Elizabeth," the King said, surprise in his voice. "You don't need to tell me."
Anyone with eyes could see that Elizabeth was nervous, although she tried to hide it. The King smiled slightly, and leaned forward. "Come here, child," he said, beckoning her forward.
She took a few steps forward, then stood still. "Votre Majesté. Ca va?" Your Majesty. How are you?
The King smiled. "Ca va bien, ma petite. Viens ici," he responded. Things are going well, little one. Come here.
The King moved aside and made space for Elizabeth on his throne. Amelia smiled at Elizabeth, and Elizabeth smiled back. She approached the King with more confidence, and he lifted her onto his knee. It had been silly of him to say she was a bastard, that he was not her father. She had the Tudor hair, the vibrant red. There could be no denying their relation.
He turned to the court before him after he kissed Elizabeth's forehead. "Je suis en famille!" he proclaimed, sweeping his arm forward.
The court cheered and applauded.
Henry felt almost complete. He had all three of his daughters, his grandsons, his wife, and his most trusted advisor surrounding him. The only thing to make the picture perfect would be a son of his own.
But now, it was time to deal with the rebels. He would not be lenient.